4/5
posted Jun-07-2012
I am going to try to write a thoughtful, fair, review of my experience with Xotic PC. This will be difficult because the process is not complete. I am still in 'Phase 2' and have been for the past eleven days.
Some background: the last computer I bought was over six years ago. I don't know a lot about computers. I wanted a machine for gaming, web-surfing and very basic word processing. I spent a couple weeks researching products and vendors. The reviews I read about Xotic PC really made me feel like I was making the best choice.
A couple of the reviews (and I know Xotic PC is not responsible for the reviews their customers write) really made me feel like I was making a good choice. One woman wrote that after placing her order someone called her and went over it to make sure she got the right product. I would have loved it if that had happened. It didn't but I cannot hold it against Xotic PC because they never indicated that it was a standard service. Shame on me, and me alone, for thinking that they would do that.
I did have a couple of issues- the website indicates a 3% reduction in the price if you pay with a check / cash. I specifically went over this with my sales representative (step by step so I would get it right). I followed his instructions down to the letter- I even wrote in the instructions '3% cash discount.' Unfortunately when I saw the price they only applied 2% off. Was it an error? Did the free shipping invalidate the cash discount? I don't know- I asked but I never got an answer. I know, to some, that would not be a big deal but when your first experience with a company (that you just spent close to 2K on) is a billing error it raises red flags. At least it does for me. I contacted Xotic PC and ask two questions- why is it 2% instead of 3% and what is the cancellation process / procedure. I really hate it when I have to go through a bill line by line to make sure I am not being over-charged or miss charged. For me that is a deal breaker. Had the cancellation process ever been explained to me (it never was) I would have cancelled my order. They did, quickly, update the price and fix the problem. Would Xotic PC have caught the error if I hadn't? I don't know. I will assume, to their credit, that they would have. It still made me wonder- what is going on here? Did I make a mistake?
Well all that was on day one and two. I chose to go the 'secure payment' option in order to get my machine faster. I authorized the purchase price on a card and then sent a check in for the 3% discounted price. After the check clears I sent a copy of both sides to Xotic PC. The credit charge is supposed to clear after that. Well they cashed the check and the charge is still pending and I still have absolutely no idea when the machine is going to be done or shipped. So I decided to contact Xotic PC. I have a couple questions (I thought fairly easy questions)- when will the pending charge clear?, when will the order be completed? and when will it ship? I wasn't looking for any specific answer- I just wanted something. A week, two weeks a month? The website said that it could take up to 30 days for the credit authorization to clear (they gave fair warning). The response I got was 'someone will contact you' with a smiley face emoticon at the end. This is from the rep. that emailed me after my order to say that she would answer any of my questions. I ended up emailing her back and wrote that I really regretted doing business with Xotic PC (which is true) and I didn't like being ignored (which I don't).
So overall I have this advice: If you know a lot about computers and know exactly what you want Xotic PC is, probably, a fine vendor. If you need a machine quickly, or even a date for when it might be done, you may want to consider a different vendor. If you have questions, and want detailed answers, Xotic PC may not be the best vendor for you based on my experiences. You may have to go over your bill to make sure the appropriate price shows up- it may be a glitch or it may be intentional (they never answered me). I don't have anything really bad to say but I don't have anything good to say either. Makes me wonder how valuable the lifetime support is.
UPDATE: If a customer complains Xotic PC responds promptly. The credit authorization was removed and my machine is going to be shipped soon.
This review was modified by
ComputerNovice on June 07 2012 05:52:42 PM
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![Share](javascript:share_rating({"review_body":"I am going to try to write a thoughtful, fair, review of my experience with Xotic PC. This will be difficult because the process is not complete. I am still in \u0027Phase 2\u0027 and have been for the past eleven days.<br>Some background: the last computer I bought was over six years ago. I don\u0027t know a lot about computers. I wanted a machine for gaming, web-surfing and very basic word processing. I spent a couple weeks researching products and vendors. The reviews I read about Xotic PC really made me feel like I was making the best choice.<br>A couple of the reviews (and I know Xotic PC is not responsible for the reviews their customers write) really made me feel like I was making a good choice. One woman wrote that after placing her order someone called her and went over it to make sure she got the right product. I would have loved it if that had happened. It didn\u0027t but I cannot hold it against Xotic PC because they never indicated that it was a standard service. Shame on me, and me alone, for thinking that they would do that.<br>I did have a couple of issues- the website indicates a 3% reduction in the price if you pay with a check \/ cash. I specifically went over this with my sales representative (step by step so I would get it right). I followed his instructions down to the letter- I even wrote in the instructions \u00273% cash discount.\u0027 Unfortunately when I saw the price they only applied 2% off. Was it an error? Did the free shipping invalidate the cash discount? I don\u0027t know- I asked but I never got an answer. I know, to some, that would not be a big deal but when your first experience with a company (that you just spent close to 2K on) is a billing error it raises red flags. At least it does for me. I contacted Xotic PC and ask two questions- why is it 2% instead of 3% and what is the cancellation process \/ procedure. I really hate it when I have to go through a bill line by line to make sure I am not being over-charged or miss charged. For me that is a deal breaker. Had the cancellation process ever been explained to me (it never was) I would have cancelled my order. They did, quickly, update the price and fix the problem. Would Xotic PC have caught the error if I hadn\u0027t? I don\u0027t know. I will assume, to their credit, that they would have. It still made me wonder- what is going on here? Did I make a mistake?<br>Well all that was on day one and two. I chose to go the \u0027secure payment\u0027 option in order to get my machine faster. I authorized the purchase price on a card and then sent a check in for the 3% discounted price. After the check clears I sent a copy of both sides to Xotic PC. The credit charge is supposed to clear after that. Well they cashed the check and the charge is still pending and I still have absolutely no idea when the machine is going to be done or shipped. So I decided to contact Xotic PC. I have a couple questions (I thought fairly easy questions)- when will the pending charge clear?, when will the order be completed? and when will it ship? I wasn\u0027t looking for any specific answer- I just wanted something. A week, two weeks a month? The website said that it could take up to 30 days for the credit authorization to clear (they gave fair warning). The response I got was \u0027someone will contact you\u0027 with a smiley face emoticon at the end. This is from the rep. that emailed me after my order to say that she would answer any of my questions. I ended up emailing her back and wrote that I really regretted doing business with Xotic PC (which is true) and I didn\u0027t like being ignored (which I don\u0027t).<br>So overall I have this advice: If you know a lot about computers and know exactly what you want Xotic PC is, probably, a fine vendor. If you need a machine quickly, or even a date for when it might be done, you may want to consider a different vendor. If you have questions, and want detailed answers, Xotic PC may not be the best vendor for you based on my experiences. You may have to go over your bill to make sure the appropriate price shows up- it may be a glitch or it may be intentional (they never answered me). I don\u0027t have anything really bad to say but I don\u0027t have anything good to say either. Makes me wonder how valuable the lifetime support is.<br>UPDATE: If a customer complains Xotic PC responds promptly. The credit authorization was removed and my machine is going to be shipped soon.","link":"http:\/\/www.resellerratings.com\/store\/Xotic_PC\/review\/1612936#comment1612936","store_thumb":"http:\/\/www.resellerratings.com\/store\/thumbnail\/Xotic_PC.jpg","store_name":"Xotic PC","username":"ComputerNovice","rating":"4"}, "single");){kind=link}